Author's Note: Written for…

Weekly AU Competition. Prompt: Werewolf!AU

Rubik's Cube Challenge. Prompt: lies

Fanfiction Tournaments Competition. Theme: Hogwarts Professors (Snape and/or Dumbledore)

Lycanthrope

"Something has to be done."

"I'm not willing to risk the lives of my students."

"Then the Ministry has to be informed. We can't keep this from them, Albus. From the parents-"

"You know as well as I do what will happen if we let this get out."

Severus stirred, trapped somewhere between sleep and waking. His whole body ached and his eyelids were heavy. He could remember feeling this exhausted since that time he tried out for the Quidditch team, but this was different. The pain didn't begin and end in his muscles: it radiated all over his body, growing stronger by the second. His blood boiled.

He could hear voices around him but couldn't focus on the words. They didn't sound like his dorm mates, which he found strange. Who else would be in his room? He wanted to open his eyes to find out but it was too much effort and not worth the pain it would undoubtedly cause.

:-:

"Is there anything you can give him for the pain?" Dumbledore murmured, watching the boy whimper and writhe in his sleep. Poppy shook her head.

"I've given him all the pain killers he can handle," the healer told him while she applied a cold compress to the Slytherin's forehead. "The pain will die down soon. The first twenty-four hours are the worst. Best he sleeps through it. I'll send for you when he wakes up."

Dumbledore nodded, stealing one more look at the boy before heading back to his office.

:-:

"I'm going to jail."

"Don't be dramatic, Sirius. There isn't time."

"This is my fault, James. I sent him there. I told Snivellus how to get passed the Willow. Now he's gonna die and they'll send me to Azkaban and they'll probably expel Remus and it's my fault."

"I don't intend to let any of those things happen, Mr. Black," Dumbledore said, sweeping into the room and taking his seat behind the desk. He motioned for the sixth-years to sit, which they did hastily, not wanting to anger the headmaster further.

"Perhaps one of you would care to explain to me how you came to know of Mr. Lupin's condition?"

James immediately launched into telling the story. "We figured out about Remus during first year. We confronted him and he explained everything to us."

"About the Whomping Willow and the shack and all that," Sirius cut in.

"And what did you do then?"

The boys shared a look before hanging their heads.

"The thing is, Professor, we may have, uh, become-animagi-to-spend-the-full-moon-with-him," James said quickly. When he peeked at the headmaster over the rim of his glasses, he was pleased to see him smirking.

"I've long-suspected your talents. And Mr. Pettigrew's, I assume?"

"H-how?" Sirius asked in awe.

"For a while Mr. Filch and I were under the impression that someone was leaving the entrance doors open. We received several reports of deer and wild dogs running through the corridors. You can imagine how much effort it took to keep this quiet once I realized what was going on."

"We're sorry, Professor. We never meant to cause any trouble," James said sincerely.

"At least not that kind of trouble," Sirius added.

"I believe you. I would have interfered sooner if I didn't respect your dedication to helping your friend through a difficult situation." Dumbledore paused, scribbling something on a sheet of parchment on his desk. "What I'm about to ask of you two will not be easy, but it is for the good of everyone involved – specifically Mr. Lupin."

"We'll do whatever it takes to protect him," Sirius promised.

"Good. For starters, we're going to lie. Normally I would be against such a practice, but if word were to get out about Mr. Lupin's condition, there's no telling what would happen."

"They'd have him expelled," Sirius said. Dumbledore nodded gravely.

"I'm afraid so. Severus will know the truth, of course, but I'll speak to him when he wakes up."

"Is he going to be alright?" James asked.

"He will live, although there was nothing to be done about the bite. Come the next full moon, he will transition into a werewolf." Neither of the boys felt well enough to comment on their nemesis' condition, so Dumbledore continued. "Were certain people – Severus' parents, for example – to learn that I had knowingly allowed a werewolf onto school grounds, potentially endangering the lives of students, I very much doubt I would be allowed to keep my job."

"It's my fault, Sir. I'll take the blame," Sirius assured him.

"Mr. Black, what you did was reckless and irresponsible, and very, very dangerous. Nevertheless, I will not have you going to Azkaban for it. And regardless, they would still insist on mine and Mr. Lupin's removal. Yes, the best thing for it is to lie. We need to act as though tonight never happened.

"Christmas break is in a few short weeks. I'll insist on Severus staying here and undergoing his first transformation in the shack. He turns seventeen next month, at which point he can make up his mind about how he wants to handle this situation."

"So he could still choose to have you and Remus kicked out, and me arrested?" Sirius asked quietly.

"I'm afraid so."

James let out a frustrated groan. "Our lives are in the hands of a boy we've relentlessly bullied for six years."